Gender equality is fundamental to delivering safe, inclusive, person-centred healthcare. To strengthen equity across the health system, NSW Health has released its first Gender Equality Action Plan, outlining key priorities for improving gender inequality from 2025 to 2028.
The plan supports our commitment to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone, regardless of gender.
Discover the actions you can take to help drive change.
View the NSW Health Gender Equality Action Plan
What is the Gender Equality Action Plan?
Our vision is for people of all genders to have equal access, treatment and opportunities in the health system. This includes:
- men and women
- cisgender and transgender people
- and people who are gender diverse.
Inequalities based on gender or sex can have a significant impact on our workforce and the people we care for.
As NSW Health’s first Gender Equality Action Plan, the plan’s focus is on system-wide actions we can take to improve gender equality across our health services and our workforce.
Evidence shows that improving gender equality has positive health outcomes and economic benefits, and is fundamental to delivering high-quality, person-centred healthcare.
This plan is the product of over a year of engagement, involving consumers and staff from every organisation across NSW Health.
4 priorities from the action plan
The action plan has 4 priorities that focus on system level change from 2025 to 2028. All NSW Health organisations and staff are encouraged to champion gender equality by:
Strengthening equity and gender diversity in workforce and governance structures.
Accounting for gender and sex when developing, implementing and evaluating work (such as programs, policies, services, infrastructure and research).
Respecting people of all genders in how we communicate, engage and consult.
Collecting and providing access to the right information on gender and sex.
You can find examples of the specific actions we can take to drive these priorities on page 6 of the plan.
"When we improve gender equality, we help our people and patients continue to feel welcomed, respected and safe without fear of discrimination or bias due to their gender." - Susan Pearce AM, Secretary, NSW Health
Equitable actions we’re driving forward
At eHealth NSW, we’re committed to driving change through our work and helping to advance gender equality across the state. This commitment goes beyond binary identities to also include non-binary individuals.
Our own Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Strategy 2024-2026 sets out ways we’re working to make eHealth NSW an inclusive and supportive workplace for everyone, regardless of gender, background, abilities, or life experiences.
Over the years, eHealth NSW has implemented several initiatives to progress gender equality, including the establishment of the diversity network, Women’s Leadership Community of Practice.
In numbers: Gender equality at eHealth NSW
34% of our senior leadership positions are held by women
42% of our workforce are women
